Never to Be a Mother: A Guide for All Women Who Didn't--Or Couldn't--Have Children

Anton, a clinical social worker who herself never had a baby, addresses this comforting and deeply personal guide to women who are not childless by choice. Using her own experience and those of others in the same predicament, she describes the various paths to childlessness--infertility, not having wed, a difficult marriage--and the ways in which feelings of loss may manifest themselves. In one upbeat section, she outlines 10 ``steps to resolution,'' from acknowledging the loss and letting go of blame to thinking of oneself as ``childfree'' instead of ``childless.'' And for those who want to join forces with other childfree women, she explains how to start a self-help group. The book contains interesting case histories, but Anton's tendency to romanticize motherhood and her sometimes self-pitying tone leave the impression that she herself has never really come to terms with being childless. $30,000 ad/promo; author tour. ( Sept. )